Summit Climb Of Mt. Rainer

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Whiteout in Paradise Get in the best shape of your life and then go climb a mountain. This phrase circulated throughout my mind on the on the morning of July 23, 2014. For the last six months I had been preparing for a four day summit climb of Mt. Rainer. This adventure required hiking with a 35 to 45 pound load, steep climbing with a 20-25 pound load, and a 10-14 hour summit day. Mountaineering techniques for this climb required excellent physical condition, core strength, and flexibility. The demanding degree of physical stamina and mental toughness required didn’t hit me until the morning of the climb. At 8:15am, I realized the challenge of climbing 9,000 feet in the next 18 hours. Would my fitness and training be enough? Helmets, harnesses, avalanche transceivers, ice axes, sleeping bags, backpacks, and layers of mountaineering clothing scattered the floor at the Mt. Rainier basecamp. The morning was focused on specifics of the climb and review of the skills we had learned. All of us were prepared regarding techniques of efficient climbing, safety, and our route up Rainier. The main concern was the unpredictable Northwest weather swelling around us. Could we really reach Paradise? Jake Beren, our mountaineering guide, stood outside fearless and comfortable in the gloomy weather. A darkened sky creeped in around basecamp and the intensity of rain picked up. Jake was communicating on his radio to guides a few thousand feet higher addressing route conditions and avalanche concerns. As news came through, Jake walked over …show more content…

Having food that we genuinely enjoyed kept our energy levels up and moral high. Our guides checked in with everyone of us and made sure we were mentally and physically ready to proceed on. “Are you drinking enough? Are you eating enough? How do you feel? Hang in there.” Jake was a lifeline. He was there to support and look after us. His advice, jokes, and persistence inspired us

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